Department for Transport

Transport: Capital Investment

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the transport capital infrastructure spending announced in each Budget Statement in each year since 2011 was allocated to each (a) region and (b) constituency of the UK.

Andrew Jones: Total public expenditure on transport by country and region is outlined in the HM Treasury Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses series.　 This includes a breakdown of capital expenditure. Transport capital spending by constituency of the UK and by Budget statement is not available.

Roads: Accidents

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of traffic accidents in which the use of a satellite navigation system has been a contributing factor in the last five years.

Andrew Jones: The information requested is not collected by the Department. However, related information on reported accidents where a ‘distraction in vehicle’ contributory factor was allocated is published.   The number of reported personal injury road accidents by severity where a ‘distraction in vehicle’ contributory factor was allocated in the last five years is given in the following table:  Reported road accidents allocated a distraction in vehicle contributory factor, GB: 2009 - 2013   Number of accidentsYearFatalSeriousSlightTotal2009623922,4882,9422010603802,5322,9722011754172,6403,1322012613732,4742,9082013844252,4862,995

M56: Accidents

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2015 to Question 3171, what steps his Department is taking to reduce accidents on the M56 between junctions 12 and 14.

Andrew Jones: Highways England is considering whether there are any potential safety improvements on the M56 between junctions 12 and 14 that should be included within its forward works programme. For example, a scheme to improve the westbound merge at junction 12 is currently being assessed to establish whether it would improve traffic flow and reduce the potential for accidents.   In addition, Highways England is undertaking work to update its route strategies and may identify further safety improvements for this section of motorway. In the longer term, these and other studies will inform Highways England’s considerations whether to upgrade the M56 to a smart motorway, which would further enhance its safety performance.

Roads: Accidents

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to respond to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety constituency data on road traffic accidents, published in March 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The Department already produces road casualty tables by local authority and parliamentary constituencies. We welcome reuse of our data in any way that helps important stakeholders understand patterns of casualties and accidents around the country. This is a good example of how making the raw data available under the Open Data agenda can allow third parties to reuse the Department’s data and add value to it.

A46: Accidents

Edward Argar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what statistics his Department holds on road traffic accidents at the Thrussington to Seagrove Road crossover with the A46 in each year from 2005 to 2014.

Andrew Jones: The number of reported personal injury road accidents at the junction of the A46 and Seagrove Road and Park Hill lane are given in the following table: Number of reported personal injury road accidents at the junction of A46 with Seagrove Road and Park Hill Lane: 2005 -2014   Number of accidentsYear of Accident FatalSeriousSlightTotal  2005 11132006 00222007 00222008 01122009 10012010 00222012 0101  There were no personal injury accidents at this location in 2011, 2013 and 2014. The Department does not hold any statistics on damage only accidents.

A46: Repairs and Maintenance

Edward Argar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to improve the A46-Seagrave to Thrussington road crossover junction.

Andrew Jones: Highways England has no new schemes planned for A46 Seagrove to Thrussington junction.   However, Highways England is undertaking work to update its route strategies and may identify new schemes for this junction.

Aviation: Passengers

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will develop a uniform standard for ensuring disruptive and heavily intoxicated airline passengers are not permitted to fly on subsequent occasions.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Under UK law there are two main pieces of legislation relating to the rules of conduct on board aircraft – the Air Navigation Order 2005 (ANO) and the Aviation Offences Act 2003 (AOA), and both carry severe penalties intended to deter offenders.   UK airline staff are trained to identify potentially disruptive passengers, and airlines’ conditions of carriage generally stipulate that they will refuse carriage to passengers whose mental or physical state, including impairment from alcohol or drugs, presents a risk to passengers, crew or property.

Airports: North of England

Jo Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the importance of hub connectivity for airports and businesses in the North of England; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage growth in (a) the UK domestic network and (b) from London airports to the North of England.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government recognised in its 2013 Aviation Policy Framework (APF) the very important role airports across the UK play in providing domestic and international connections and the vital contribution they can make to the growth of regional economies.   However, in the UK airports, and the airlines that use them, operate in a competitive, commercial environment. It is for individual airlines to make market-based decisions regarding the air services that they operate, and form which airports. It is not open to the Government to compel airlines to operate air services between specific airports.

Driving: Young People

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to issue a green paper on young drivers; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: I don’t want any young person to come to harm on our roads and will not rule out any measure that could save lives. This new Government will be looking at the best ways to improve road safety during this Parliament and beyond. At the moment we are focussing on technological and behavioural solutions.

Bus Services: Finance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate the number of jobs and businesses that rely on the Bus Service Operators Grant; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this Grant on the availability of bus services in Merseyside.

Andrew Jones: The Bus Service Operators Grant is paid to operators of eligible local bus services and community transport organisations to help them recover some of their fuel costs. This benefits passengers by reducing fares and supporting some bus routes which might otherwise cease to be served. The Grant supports jobs and businesses by making employment accessible to a greater number of people and providing a wider catchment area of qualified employees to businesses.   Currently there are no plans to estimate the number of jobs and businesses that rely on the Grant.   We have not made a separate assessment of the effect of the Grant on bus services in Merseyside.

Bristol-Derby Railway Line: Electrification

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on assessing the case for electrifying the rail line from Bristol to Derby.

Claire Perry: Network Rail is currently assessing the case for further electrification of the rail network, including the line between Bristol and Derby. It plans to publish a draft update to the industry electrification strategy in due course.

Rolling Stock

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2015 to Question 3530, by what date he expects Pacer trains to be withdrawn from service by those franchises managed by his Department.

Claire Perry: Rolling stock is owned by Rolling Stock Companies, and leased by the Train Operating Companies. In the Northern franchise competition, we have specified the replacement of the Pacer stock by 2020, and the exact plans will be put forward by the winning bidder.   The date for the planned withdrawal of the Pacers from the Great Western franchise is May 2017.

Railways: North West

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral statement of 25 June 2015, Official Report, column 1067-8, on Network Rail, what effect changes to Network Rail's programme will have on upgrading of stock on and electrification of the lines between (a) Liverpool and Manchester and (b) Liverpool and Wigan.

Claire Perry: The pause on Transpennine Electrification east of Stalybridge will have no effect on the plans to upgrade stock and the electrification of the lines between (a) Liverpool and Manchester and (b) Liverpool and Wigan, as those lines are now electrified.

Railways: Yorkshire and the Humber

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral statement of 25 June 2015, Official Report, column 1067-8, on Network Rail, what his policy is on electrification of the Leeds-Harrogate-York line.

Claire Perry: Network Rail is currently assessing the case for further electrification of the rail network, including the line from Leeds to York via Harrogate. It plans to publish a draft update to the industry electrification strategy in due course.

Rail Infrastructure Futures Unit

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of June 25 2015 to Question 3539, which external organisations have held meetings and on which dates with the Rail Infrastructure Futures unit since that unit's creation.

Claire Perry: My officials in the Rail Executive regularly hold meetings to discuss issues affecting the rail industry, including railway infrastructure management and these meetings can involve external organisations.

Railways: Electrification

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of June 25 2015 to Question 3449, what the total value was of the contracts entered into by Network Rail in connection with (a) Midland Main Line and (b) TransPennine electrification.

Mr Patrick McLoughlin: Midland MainlineThe value of contracts awarded is approximately £250m.   TransPennine Electrification  The total value of North Transpennine Electrification contracts awarded for electrification between Manchester and York is approximately £92m.

Midland Main Railway Line

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral statement of 25 June 2015, Official Report, column 1067-8, on Network Rail, which of the Midland Main Line speed improvement works referenced in that statement are additional to projects already committed under Control Period 5.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Home Office

Domestic Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) women and (b) men safety officers are employed to work with victims of domestic abuse.

Karen Bradley: The Government does not hold this information centrally. The previous Government ring-fenced nearly £40 million-£10m per year-of stable funding up until 2015 for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services, rape crisis centres, the national domestic violence helplines and stalking helpline.This funding has been extended until April 2016 and includes part-funding for 144 Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) to provide support, including safety advice, to both male and female victims of domestic abuse. The IDVAs are employed by local authorities and third sector organisations. The Home Office does not hold information on the gender of the IDVAs employed by these bodies.

Human Trafficking: Social Security Benefits

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are in place to support victims of human trafficking who do not pass the Genuine Prospect of Work test.

Karen Bradley: The Genuine Prospect of Work test is critical to the integrity of the benefits system. Where they are exercising EU treaty rights, EEA migrants are eligible for income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) for a period of 3 or 6 months, depending on whether they have a right to reside as a jobseeker or as a worker who has become involuntarily unemployed. At the end of this period all EEA nationals claiming JSA must provide compelling evidence that they have a genuine prospect of work, such as evidence of a job offer, to qualify for a short extension.On referral to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), victims of human trafficking are eligible for support through the Government-funded victim care contract, which includes accommodation and subsistence, for at least 45 days, which is longer than required under our international obligations. In many cases victims receive support for a longer period.EEA Nationals who are identified as victims of human trafficking through the NRM may qualify for discretionary leave where, for instance, they are helping police with an investigation or where their personal circumstances are such that it would be detrimental for the individual to leave the UK. EEA Nationals granted discretionary leave for those reasons are entitled to JSA for as long as they have that leave.

Offences against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the next progress report on the Government's Tackling child sexual exploitation action plan, published in November 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: Responsibility for leading the Government’s work to tackle child sexual exploitation sits with the Home Office.On 3 March 2015, the previous Government published its response to the failures in the Rotherham, which were identified by Professor Alexis Jay and Louise Casey in their reviews. The report, Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation, sets out the Government’s approach to tackling sexual exploitation. It includes a comprehensive, targeted set of actions, bringing together healthcare, social care, education, law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, and local and national government.The Government is taking a forward theses actions and we will update Parliament and the public in due course.

Asylum: Eritrea

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications from Eritrean nationals were decided in (a) April and (b) May 2015; and what decision was taken in each such case.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Eritrea

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review and update her Department's country guidance on Eritrea relating to illegal exit and national service to take better account of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel Inquiry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what instructions have been issued to government departments regarding the retention of documents pertinent to the Goddard Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Karen Bradley: Justice Goddard, the Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, wrote to the Cabinet Secretary on 23 June with document retention guidance. A copy of the letter is available on the Inquiry‘s website.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) budget is, (b) full-time equivalent staff is and (c) objectives are for 2015-16 of the taskforce on migration issues in the Mediterranean.

Mike Penning: Up to 90 officers from a number of UK agencies will be deployed in the UK, the Mediterranean and Africa as part of the Organised Immigration Crime Task Force to pursue and disrupt the organised crime groups callously profiting from the people smuggling trade. The taskforce will exploit every opportunity at source, in transit countries and in Europe to tackle the gangs' criminal operations and better protect the UK and vulnerable migrants from this threat.For 2015/16, the task force will work to enrich the intelligence picture and relentlessly disrupt, pursue and prosecute the organised crime groups . To do this effectively, the taskforce will be a mix of intelligence officers, de-briefers, investigative officers and prosecutors. We are still finalising the costs of the Taskforce.

Radicalism

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what meetings her Department has had or plans to have with (a) representatives of church groups, (b) the Muslim Council of Britain, (c) the Board of Deputies, (d) the Christian Institute and (e) other faith groups on extremism disruption orders.

Mr John Hayes: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. details of theses meetings are published on the Cabinet website on a quarterly basis.

Drugs

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will (a) publish a new drug strategy and (b) consult drug treatment providers in the preparation of such a strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Penning: We will continue to build on the Drug Strategy launched in 2010 and tackle drugs as a key driver of crime. This balances three key themes to reduce the demand for drugs, restrict the supply and support individuals to recover from their dependence.There are positive signs that this approach is working: there has been a long term downward trend in drug use over the last decade, the number of heroin and crack cocaine users in England continues to decline, and more people are recovering from their dependency now than in 2009/10.We continue to work with external partners including treatment providers and the Government's independent experts, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, in developing new policy.

Immigration

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Office for National Statistics' latest annual population statistics to June 2014, what steps she is taking to ensure that annual net migration is brought back down to the tens of thousands.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

EU Action

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times the UK, Germany and France voted against proposed EU legislation in the EU Council of Ministers that was approved by a qualified majority in each year from 2010 to 2014.

Mr David Lidington: Under the voting system in place 2010-2014, the UK, France and Germany constituted a blocking minority for decisions taken on the basis of a qualified majority in Council. Consequently, any decision which they voted against could not have been taken forward. Since 1 November 2014, when new Lisbon Treaty provisions came into force, the UK’s relative voting weight as a larger Member State has increased because of the new double majority rules, which require 65% of the EU’s population and 55% of the Member States for a qualified majority.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department provides to Bosnia.

Mr David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides political and technical support to all countries in the Western Balkans with the aim of promoting greater stability and security across the region, including by encouraging progress towards EU accession.In Bosnia, we have recently, through an initiative with Germany, sought to inject greater momentum in the country’s EU accession path. Our assistance supports public administration reform, strengthening of the judiciary, reconciliation and addressing corruption. We also contribute to the European Union Force (EUFOR) peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.

Sugar: Import Duties

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his contribution of 9 June 2015, Official Report, column 1056, what progress he has made on raising the question of import duties imposed on cane sugar with his EU counterparts.

Mr David Lidington: UK Ministers have repeatedly called for a level playing field for the beet and cane sugar sectors and argued that it is essential that refiners have access to sufficient quantities of cane at tariff levels which allow them to compete fairly. This was discussed at the Agriculture Council in January.

Pakistan: Save the Children Fund

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the government of Pakistan on its attempt to close the offices of Save the Children in Islamabad.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We acknowledge that need for appropriate regulation of NGOs in Pakistan, but we remain concerned at recent attempts to close Save the Children’s Islamabad office and have raised the issue at the highest levels on a number of occasions. On 12 June, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised our concerns with his counterpart in Pakistan. I raised the issue with the Pakistan High Commissioner on 11 June. We are pleased that Save the Children has been able to resume operations in Pakistan and we continue to monitor developments.

Northern Ireland Office

Administrative Scheme for the "On the Runs" Independent Review

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress has been made on implementation of the recommendations of the Hallett Report into the administrative scheme for On the Runs published on 17 July 2014; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: To date, 6 of the 11 recommendations made by Lady Justice Hallett have been fully implemented. These are found on page 147 of the Report of the Hallett Review at paragraph 11.2 bullet points 1, 2, 3 and 4, and paragraph 11.3 bullet points 4 and 6. These include all of the recommendations which fall solely to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) to implement.Work on the implementation of the remaining 5 recommendations – those at paragraph 11.2 bullet point 5 (for the NIO to coordinate in conjunction with police and prosecuting authorities), and paragraph 11.3 bullet points 1, 2, 3 (for the PSNI) and 5 (for the Home Office) – is ongoing.The OTR Policy Oversight Board is due to meet again in July to review progress against the outstanding recommendations.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Skin: Diseases

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding his Department gives to research on the causes, effects and treatment of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in the last five years.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Innovate UK, has not provided any funding over the last five years into research on the causes, effects and treatment of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.The MRC is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical and clinical research. It is an independent research funding body that receives its grant in aid from the Department. The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. Awards are made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.

Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many arms export licences the Government has issued with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 25 March 2015; if he will investigate the effect of the UK's obligations under national and EU legislation and the Arms Trade Treaty of the issuing of arms export licences to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and that country's air strikes in Yemen and its allies; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Government has granted 37 export licences for military goods for Saudi Arabia since 25 March 2015. All export licence applications are carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria to ensure the UK’s obligations are being met. The Criteria, which were amended in March 2014 to reflect the UK’s commitments under the Arms Trade Treaty, take into account all relevant factors at the time of the application, including the prevailing circumstances in the recipient country and the region, the nature of the goods, the identity of the end-user and the stated end-use. A licence will not be issued if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the Criteria. No further investigation is planned because all applications are rigorously assessed against these Criteria.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with tampon manufacturers on warnings about toxic shock syndrome appearing on product packaging; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: In common with other consumer products, the safety of tampons is covered under the General Product Safety Directive. EU-based tampon manufacturers have also agreed an industry code of practice which sets a standard for the information and warnings about toxic shock syndrome that should appear on product packaging. There have been no recent discussions between the Department and tampon manufacturers on this topic.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent progress has been made on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: Following the most recent round of negotiations for the EU-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which took place between 20 and 24 April in New York, there continues to be good progress on the technical work which would underpin the final deal. The next negotiating round is due to take place in July.

Department for International Development

Palestinians

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the humanitarian effect on Palestinians in the West Bank of restrictions on their movement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: We are deeply concerned about the impact of Israeli restrictions on Palestinians living in the West Bank, particularly in Area C and East Jerusalem. Access to water and land is restricted; with the inability to build freely on land and the threat of displacement from their homes. The UK is supporting access to water for agriculture, the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure in Area C, and legal assistance to Palestinian communities at risk of forced eviction, demolition and displacement. The UK regularly calls on Israel to lift restrictions on access and movement across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Gaza: Export Controls

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of the potential humanitarian effect of ending restrictions on exports out of Gaza; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: An improved economy is not only essential for the people of Gaza, but firmly in Israel’s security interests. We have consistently called on Israel to improve movement and access into and out of Gaza.

Occupied Territories: Trade Barriers

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of the potential humanitarian effect of ending restrictions on trade between Gaza and the West Bank.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The biggest impediment to Palestinian economic progress is the Israeli-imposed movement and access restrictions. Giving Palestinians access to their resources and land and enabling them to work and trade freely is vital for economic prosperity and improved living conditions. Findings of a recent World Bank report show that benefits of lifting Israeli movement and access restrictions in Area C alone could increase Palestinian GDP by 3.4 billion USD.

Gaza: Ports

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential humanitarian effect of creating a secure sea route for EU trade with Gaza between Cyprus and Gaza port.

Mr Desmond Swayne: Allowing exports and lifting movement and access restrictions would have a transformative effect on Gaza’s economy, thereby reducing the humanitarian consequences of this political crisis by stimulating the economy and helping get people out of poverty. We have consistently called on the Government of Israel to improve movement and access into and out of Gaza, and will continue to do so.

Occupied Territories

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UN assesses that the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is a protracted crisis with humanitarian consequences. UK aid is helping the Palestinian Authority to develop strong institutions, deliver essential public services and improve security.  DFID is providing £349 million in support of Palestinian development from 2011-15 and £72m for 2015/16. The UK was one of the biggest donors to the crisis last summer, providing more than £17 million in immediate humanitarian assistance for those caught up in the conflict. In October, the UK pledged a further £20 million in early recovery assistance at the Gaza Reconstruction Conference in Cairo.

Gaza: Unemployment

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimates she has made of the level of youth unemployment in Gaza; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: According to the World Bank, youth unemployment in Gaza rose to more than 60 percent by the end of 2014. Unemployment is even higher among Palestinian refugees, particularly young women. DFID is promoting private sector development which contributes to state and peace building by increasing economic sustainability, and reducing unemployment and poverty.

Diseases: Research

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department allocates annually for research into neglected tropical diseases.

Grant Shapps: The UK is providing over £10 million annually for research into Neglected Tropical Diseases. This is through a range of initiatives, including development of new treatment and diagnostic products, as well as implementation research. Examples of products produced by the research in recent years include the first ever rapid diagnostic test for sleeping sickness as well as a safer drug for treating the disease.

Developing Countries: Tuberculosis

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department allocates each year to ensure that people in the developing world living with HIV who have also contracted tuberculosis have access to anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department allocates each year to ensure that individuals in the developing world living with HIV have access to HIV drugs.

Grant Shapps: The UK remains the second biggest international donor on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, spending a total of £374 million in the last financial year for which figures are available. A proportion of this includes programmes promoting integrated responses to tackling TB-HIV co-infection. The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the main financing mechanism for the UK’s support to TB and HIV. As of December 2014, Global Fund programmes have supported 7.3 million people with HIV to access antiretroviral therapy and have tested and treated 12.3 million people for TB.

Department for Education

Free Schools

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the value is of the total assets held by free schools; and what proportion of such assets were formerly held by public bodies.

Edward Timpson: Sites used by free schools are revalued when all construction work is complete. Costs of sites at the time of acquisition for individual free schools are published on gov.uk when a project's capital costs are no longer considered to be commercially sensitive i.e. when the construction contract has been signed. Data on 49 free schools has been published at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-funding-for-open-free-schools.   Around a third of permanent sites acquired by the Education Funding Agency for free schools were previously owned by a public body.

Academies

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints have been made to the Education Funding Agency about academies and free schools in the last three years; and what proportion of such complaints have been upheld.

Edward Timpson: Open academies and free schools are required to handle complaints about them in accordance with the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014. As is the case with maintained schools, complainants are expected to exhaust fully the academy’s complaints procedure before approaching the Education Funding Agency (EFA).   The EFA is responsible for reviewing complaints about whether an academy or free school: has a complaints procedure in place that complies with the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014;handled the complaint about it in line with its own, compliant, procedure;breached its Funding Agreement in any other way.  From April 2013 to May 2015 the EFA received 3,656 complaints about academies and free schools. 3,512 (96%) of these were not in scope for the EFA to consider. In these cases the EFA will redirect complainants to the appropriate body as soon as possible. 144 (4%) of the complaints received were in scope of the EFA’s remit. 32 (22%) of the in scope complaints were upheld or partially upheld. The EFA does not hold comparable data for the period 2012-13 centrally.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will implement the recommendations of the Fifth Report of the Education Committee of Session 2014-15, on Life Lessons: PHSE and SRE in schools, HC 145, on the teaching of age appropriate sex and relationship education in all primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to implement the recommendation of the Fifth Report of the Education Select Committee, Life lessons: PHSE and SRE in schools, published on 17 February 2015, on the teaching of personal, social, health and economic education in all primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Government wants all young people to leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. We agree with the Committee that high-quality physical, social, health and economic education (PSHE) and sex and relationships education (SRE) has a vital role to play in this. We are carefully considering the Committee’s recommendations and how best to address this.

Foster Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2015 to Question 334, what plans her Department has to issue new guidance to local authorities on timeframes for visits to privately fostered children.

Edward Timpson: The statutory guidance for local authorities, which sets out duties under the Private Fostering Regulations (England) 2005 including timeframes to visits of privately fostered children, remains current. There are no plans to update it. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-act-1989-private-fostering.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding is received per pupil in (a) St Helens North constituency, (b) the North West and (c) England.

Mr Sam Gyimah: In the 2015-16 financial year, the schools block unit of funding (SBUF), which covers pupils from reception to year 11, is £4,456 for St Helens, £4,565 for the North West region, and £4,612 for England. The SBUF does not cover funding for early years or high needs pupils.   Information on SBUFs for all LAs and regions for financial year 2015 to 2016 can be found at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2015-to-2016

Ministry of Justice

Criminal Liability

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many strict liability offences have been created in the last five years.

Mike Penning: The Government does not record how many strict liability offences are created in any given period. However, numbers of such offences are generally low and all new offences, including those attracting strict liability, are only created where there is a clear need to do so.

Ministry of Justice: Pay

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether all people employed by his Department (a) directly or (b) by sub-contract are in receipt of the living wage or better.

Mr Shailesh Vara: After the living wage increase in November 2014, there are 283 staff at Civil Service equivalent AA and AO grades currently earning below the living wage. This is against a backdrop of 23,598 direct employees within the Ministry of Justice HQ, HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and Legal Aid Agency (LAA). The 2015 pay award will uplift pay for these staff.The MoJ pay award that took place in August 2014 addressed the salary levels being at or above the 2014 Living Wage allowance levels. As of 31 March 2015, there were 89 members of staff who currently earn below the living wage out of a total of 46,442 direct employees in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS, including National Probation Service). Proposals are due to be submitted to the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) and those below the threshold will be discussed separately with trade unions. For National Probation Service Staff we will seek to uplift pay for those staff so they are in line with the 2014 living wage allowance.

Homicide

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been murdered since 2007 by people who were previously convicted of murder and then released having served their prison sentences.

Andrew Selous: From 1 January 2007 until 31 May 2015 12 people have been murdered by offenders who had previously been convicted of murder and so were serving a life sentence at the time they committed the subsequent murder(s). This figure relates to 11 separate offenders; one offender was responsible for two separate murders following his release from custody on life licence. An offender serving a life sentence for murder will only be released into the community on life licence where the independent Parole Board assesses that it is no longer necessary for that offender to be detained in custody on the grounds of public protection. Any offender on a life licence is subject to strict controls and conditions and managed by the Police and Probation Services, working with other agencies, as necessary. An offender subject to a life licence may be recalled to custody if he breaches the conditions of the life licence in such a way that the protection of the public would be put at risk by allowing him to remain in the community.

Prison Sentences

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many defendants were sentenced to between six and 12 months' immediate custody at a Crown Court for a single either way offence in each year since 2012; and for which offence that sentence was given in each such case.

Andrew Selous: Crown Court outcomes are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/428945/crown-court-data-tool.xls which allows Triable Either Way cases to be identified that attracted custodial sentences from more than 6 months to 12 month along with the list of offences that these applied to for the period 2004-2014.

Squatting

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of changes in the prevalence of squatting in commercial premises following the introduction of the criminal provisions contained in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Mike Penning: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 01 July 2015.The correct answer should have been:

We continue to monitor the situation closely. Data on life sentence prisoners who commit offences of homicide and other serious offences are taken from the NOMS Public Protection Unit Database. From 1 May 2013 – 31 April 2015, 12 offenders have been convicted of further offences, having been released on a life licence. The table below provides a breakdown of the offences. These offences are limited to those which fall in scope under the Probation Serious Further Offence (SFO) Review Procedures, and relate to those offences contained in Schedule 15a of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which attract a sentence of 14 years or more. 01/05/2013- 31/04/2014Murder2Other serious offences2  01/05/2014- 31/04/2015Murder1Other serious offences7 Public protection is our priority, and offenders serving a life sentence are subject to strict controls for as long as their risk requires them. If they fail to comply with these conditions or their behaviour indicates that it is no longer safe for them or for the public if they remain in the community, they can be immediately returned to prison. All 12 of these offenders were returned to prison when charged with serious further offences.

Andrew Selous: We continue to monitor the situation closely. Data on life sentence prisoners who commit offences of homicide and other serious offences are taken from the NOMS Public Protection Unit Database. From 1 May 2013 – 31 April 2015, 12 offenders have been convicted of further offences, having been released on a life licence. The table below provides a breakdown of the offences. These offences are limited to those which fall in scope under the Probation Serious Further Offence (SFO) Review Procedures, and relate to those offences contained in Schedule 15a of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which attract a sentence of 14 years or more. 01/05/2013- 31/04/2014Murder2Other serious offences2  01/05/2014- 31/04/2015Murder1Other serious offences7 Public protection is our priority, and offenders serving a life sentence are subject to strict controls for as long as their risk requires them. If they fail to comply with these conditions or their behaviour indicates that it is no longer safe for them or for the public if they remain in the community, they can be immediately returned to prison. All 12 of these offenders were returned to prison when charged with serious further offences.

Magistrates' Courts: Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what research his Department has commissioned into the cost implications of increasing magistrates sentencing powers to 12 months for a single offence; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Selous: The Government keeps under review the operation of the courts including the number of cases that are allocated to the magistrates’ and Crown Court and the sentences imposed by those courts.

Terrorism: Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average prison sentence was served by people convicted of terrorist offences in the last 10 years.

Andrew Selous: Tough sentences are available to the courts for terrorist offending. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts. Of the 54 prisoners who were released during the year 2014, who had been classified by the National Offender Management Service as terrorist offenders, and convicted in the last ten years, the average time served in prison was 23 months. This includes prisoners who have been convicted of general offences, as well as specific terrorism offences. Terrorist offending may be charged where appropriate as a general offence (e.g. attempted murder). This group of offenders will include not only those convicted of the most serious terrorist offending, but also offenders convicted of less grave Terrorism Act offences, (such as e.g. dissemination of terrorist publications or fundraising), who are likely to receive significantly shorter sentences than those who commit very serious terrorism-related crimes. The most serious terrorist offenders will be serving life sentences and if they remain a risk to the public, may never be released.

Prisoners

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serving prisoners were not in prison on 25 December 2014.

Andrew Selous: 1,347 prisoners were lawfully absent from prisons on 25 December 2014, having been released on temporary licence (ROTL). This figure has been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Over the past 18 months, we have overhauled the eligibility rules, risk assessment and monitoring processes for allowing prisoners out on temporary licence and have increased the maximum penalty for failing to return from ROTL from 6 months to two years imprisonment. There has been a 39% drop in the number of temporary release failures between 2013 and 2014.

Crown Courts

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the number of cases heard in Crown Courts (a) which were sent by Magistrates to the Crown Court and (b) where the defendant elected a jury trial where the sentencing outcome could have been achieved in the Magistrates Court with their current sentencing powers.

Mr Shailesh Vara: To produce the analysis required to answer the Question, with the appropriate level of statistical rigour required, could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders released on licence following a life sentence have committed (a) homicide and (b) other offences in each of the last two years.

Andrew Selous: Data on life sentence prisoners who commit offences of homicide and other serious offences are taken from the NOMS Public Protection Unit Database. From 1 May 2013 – 31 April 2015, 12 offenders have been convicted of further offences, having been released on a life licence. The table below provides a breakdown of the offences. These offences are limited to those which fall in scope under the Probation Serious Further Offence (SFO) Review Procedures, and relate to those offences contained in Schedule 15a of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which attract a sentence of 14 years or more. 01/05/2013- 31/04/2014Murder2Other serious offences2  01/05/2014- 31/04/2015Murder1Other serious offences7 Public protection is our priority, and offenders serving a life sentence are subject to strict controls for as long as their risk requires them. If they fail to comply with these conditions or their behaviour indicates that it is no longer safe for them or for the public if they remain in the community, they can be immediately returned to prison. All 12 of these offenders were returned to prison when charged with serious further offences.

Crown Courts

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the number of cases which are sent by Magistrates to the Crown Court following a not guilty plea where (a) the charge is amended before a plea is taken, (b) the offender changes their plea, (c) the Crown Prosecution Service withdraws the prosecution and (d) the sentencing judge hands down a lower sentence as a result of time spent on remand in the case.

Mike Penning: Data on the number of cases sent by magistrates to the Crown Court following a not guilty plea, where the charge is amended before a plea is taken, or where the sentencing judge hands down a lower sentence as a result of the time spent on remand in the case, are not centrally held. Information about the stage in the proceedings at which defendants in the Crown Court entered a plea of guilty, covering the time period Q1 2010 to Q1 2015, is to be found in Table C6 in the Criminal court statistics: January to March 2015 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2015). Information on cases which are sent by magistrates to the Crown Court following a not guilty plea, where the Crown Prosecution Service withdraws the prosecution, is not currently produced and is not readily available.

Prisons: Employment

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners serving a custodial sentence work outside prison.

Andrew Selous: Suitable, risk assessed prisoners may be permitted to undertake work outside of prison towards their release date, where this has been identified as an appropriate resettlement activity in their sentence or resettlement plan. Such prisoners are released on licence, to return to the prison each night, must abide by the conditions of release and of the particular work placement, and are subject to monitoring and review throughout. Unfortunately, the current centrally held data does not allow us reliably to state how many prisoners are released on temporary licence in order to work, but we are changing recording practice so that we will be able to do this in future.

Life Imprisonment

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders sentenced to life in the last 15 years had received one or more previous life sentence on a separate sentencing occasion.

Andrew Selous: A life sentence is mandatory for murder and other serious offences have a maximum penalty of a life sentence. In addition, there is an automatic life sentence for a second very serious violent or sexual offence. Once the minimum custodial term imposed by the court has been served in full, offenders can be considered for release on life licence by the Parole Board. Offenders will not be released unless the Parole Board, having carefully reviewed the evidence, believe that the offender no longer represents a risk to the public. An offender released on life licence can be recalled to prison at any time if their behaviour gives rise to cause for concern. The number of offenders given life sentences and those with one or more previous life sentence in England and Wales, 2000-2014, is given in the table below. Some of these offenders have received a further life sentence for an offence committed in prison, or for an offence committed before being imprisoned and which only came to light subsequently.  Number of offenders(1) given life sentences and those with one or more previous life sentence(2) in England and Wales, 2000-2014 Year(3)   Number of offenders with one or more previous life sentence 2000   92001   62002   132003   82004   92005   122006   112007   72008   62009   52010   52011   112012   112013   132014   13  Source: Ministry of Justice, Police National Computer (PNC) 1. Figures are based on counting the number of sentencing occasions for offences committed by offenders which were prosecuted by police forces in England and Wales including the British Transport Police.2. Figures are based on counting the number of occasions on which offenders have previously received a life sentence as recorded on the Police National Computer.3. These are 12 month periods to the end of December Data Source and Quality These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and are subject to revision in future editions

Community Orders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of offenders who received a custodial sentence have previously served (a) no, (b) between one and four, (c) between five and nine and (d) more than 10 community sentences in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Andrew Selous: Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, taking into account all the facts of each case. Where the offender has recent and relevant previous convictions this is a statutory aggravating factor which should increase the severity of the sentence. The table below show offenders sentenced to immediate custody for an indictable offence by the number and proportion of previous community sentence received in England and Wales, in 2014.  Offenders1 sentenced to immediate custody for an indictable2 offence by the number and proportion of previous community sentence3 received in England and Wales, 2014   Year No previous community sentenceBetween one and four previous community sentenceBetween five and nine previous community sentence10 or more previous community sentenceTotal number of offenders who received immediate custody   2014Number 19,204 31,138 20,897 9,982 81,221Proportion23.638.325.712.3-   Source: Ministry of Justice, Police National Computer (PNC)  1. Figures are based on counting the number of sentencing occasions for offences committed by offenders which were prosecuted by police forces in England and Wales including the British Transport Police.2 Indictable offences including triable either-way offences 3. Figures are based on counting the number of occasions on which offenders have previously received a community sentence for indictable offences recorded on the Police National Computer, including some offences committed outside of England and Wales. Where there were multiple offences on the same occasion, only the primary offence as recorded on the Police National Computer would be counted.

Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous convictions or cautions was of an offender who did not receive an immediate custodial sentence for the latest offence in each year since 2011; and what offences were committed by that offender.

Andrew Selous: Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent judiciary, taking account of the circumstances of the case and the maximum penalty for the offence. A court may only impose a community order or a custodial sentence where the offence is imprisonable. The highest number of previous convictions or cautions of an offender who did not receive an immediate custodial sentence for the latest offence, 2011 to 2014 is shown in the table below. It is the same offender in each year and the latest offence committed by that offender in each year was: in 2011, being drunk and disorderly in a public place, for which the maximum penalty is a fine; in 2012, failure to surrender to bail; in 2013, behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, for which the maximum penalty is a fine; and in 2014 being drunk and disorderly in a public place. Table 1: The highest number of previous convictions or cautions1,2 of an offender who did not receive an immediate custodial sentence for the latest offence, 2011 to 2014 YearHighest number of previous convictions or cautions Previous offence types Offence typeNumber of previous convictions or cautions2011477 Violence against the person1   Theft offences1   Criminal damage and arson5   Possession of weapons1   Miscellaneous crimes against society13   Summary non-motoring4562012487 Violence against the person1   Theft offences1   Criminal damage and arson5   Possession of weapons1   Miscellaneous crimes against society14   Summary non-motoring4652013502 Violence against the person1   Theft offences1   Criminal damage and arson5   Possession of weapons1   Miscellaneous crimes against society20   Summary non-motoring4742014506 Violence against the person1   Theft offences1   Criminal damage and arson5   Possession of weapons1   Miscellaneous crimes against society22   Summary non-motoring476 Data Source: Ministry of Justice copy of the Police National Computer  1. Previous convictions include those which have resulted in immediate custody. 2. Figures are based on counting the number of occasions on which offenders have previously received a conviction recorded on the Police National Computer, including some offences committed outside of England and Wales. Where there were multiple offences on the same occassion, only the primary offence as recorded on the Police National Computer would be counted.

Prisoners' Release

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much is spent by HM Prison (a) Leeds and (b) Wakefield to calculate the release date of prisoners; and how many people are employed to carry out that calculation.

Andrew Selous: Calculating release dates is not individually specified in the Directory of Services used in the National Offender Management Service. It is not therefore possible to provide reliable information on the cost or resource employed in this particular activity.

Legal Aid Scheme: Barking and Dagenham

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham were accessing civil legal aid for family law cases in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15.

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham were accessing civil legal aid in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The information requested is not held by the Legal Aid Agency.

Prisons: Television

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which television channels are available to prisoners.

Andrew Selous: Access to in-cell television is a key earnable privilege under the Incentives and Earned Privileges policy framework. Access is not permitted for prisoners who do not engage with their rehabilitation or co-operate with the prison regime. Prisoners must pay a weekly rental charge to cover the costs of providing televisions. The information requested is at Annex E of Prison Service Instruction 30/2013, Incentives and Earned Privileges, which can be accessed at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis/prison-service-instructions-2013

Prisons: Electronic Equipment

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners have (a) games consoles, (b) tablets and (c) telephones in their cells.

Andrew Selous: Prisoners are not allowed electronic tablet devices. The other information requested is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Further information on access to games consoles is available on page 20 of Prison Service Instruction 30/2013, Incentives and Earned Privileges, which can be accessed at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis/prison-service-instructions-2013

Prisoners: Veterans

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support is available to former service personnel diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder who have been sentenced to prison.

Andrew Selous: Prisoners in England are entitled to receive NHS healthcare treatments equivalent to those received by people in the community. NHS treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is provided according to clinical need and informed by best practice guidelines. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides detailed guidance (NICE Clinical Guideline 26) on treating PTSD, which NHS health professionals are expected to take into account when deciding best practice, or which treatment to provide. NICE Clinical Guideline 26 applies to prisoners and people in the community, including former service personnel.  A copy of NICE Clinical Guideline 26 has been placed in the Library.  All prisoners with a military history are eligible for the full range of interventions and services available in NOMS ‘Core Rehabilitative Offer’. In prison, Governors have responsibility for reviewing the needs of their population and planning appropriate services to meet those needs. In addition, armed services charities - including The Royal British Legion (TRBL), SSAFA, and Combat Stress - send caseworkers to support and work with ex-ASP in some prisons. These services will also be available to CRCs and the National Probation Service (NPS). The JustMentoring website, set up originally by NOMS and now managed by the charity Clinks, also actively promotes the work of these charities.

European Convention on Human Rights

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number of states party to the European Convention on Human Rights, the prisons of which breach any term of that convention.

Dominic Raab: The department does not hold the information requested .

Prison Sentences

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length was of (a) custodial sentences handed down by magistrates' courts and (b) time subsequently served in prison by people who received those sentences in each of the last three years.

Andrew Selous: The average length of custodial sentences handed down by magistrates’ courts in England and Wales, from 2012 to 2014, can be viewed on the Ministry of Justice website and it is available at the following link:- https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014 Select and open “Magistrates’ court data tool” Data held centrally for reporting purposes on the time served in custody does not reliably record whether it was a magistrates’ or Crown Court that imposed the sentence. To answer this question, we would therefore need to match together prison releases and court sentencing data, which could only be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.

Prisoners: Travellers

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of prisoners identify as being from a Gypsy, Traveller or Roma background.

Andrew Selous: As at 31 March 2015, 1.1% of the total prison population that have ethnicity declarations recorded on central systems identified themselves as having Irish Traveller or Gypsy background. Over 98% of all prisoners have such declarations recorded. A survey by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, published in 2014, suggested that some 5% of prisoners identified themselves with a broader category of Gypsy, Romany or Traveller.

Employment Tribunals Service: Scotland

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to meet with Ministers in the Scottish Government as part of his Department's review of employment tribunal fees.

Mr Shailesh Vara: There are currently no plans to meet Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss employment tribunal fees.

Open Prisons

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners who are in open prisons are serving (a) a life and (b) an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

Andrew Selous: As at 31 March 2015 in England and Wales, there were 1,049 indeterminate sentenced prisoners in open prisons, of which 511 were serving life sentences and 538 were serving an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection. The figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The categorisation and allocation of any offender to open prison is never an automatic progression, with public protection the paramount consideration in the decision-making process. Only prisoners whose risks are assessed as being manageable in conditions of low security will be allocated to an open prison. The vast majority of indeterminate sentence prisoners will be transferred to open conditions only following a positive recommendation from the independent Parole Board. Where they can show that they have made exceptional progress and where there are no known or documented concerns about their risk of harm or risk of abscond, they may be transferred without a positive recommendation from the Parole Board. Last year, decisive action was taken to protect the public by changing the policy by which prisoners may be transferred to open conditions. As a result of a comprehensive review, major changes were made to tighten the eligibility for open prisons. Prisoners may no longer be transferred to open conditions or allowed to be released on temporary licence if they have, on the current sentence, previously absconded, escaped, attempted to escape, or if they have failed to return or have re-offended whilst released on temporary licence, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Prisons: Parcels

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether any illegal items have been found in packages sent to prisoners since 1 February 2015.

Andrew Selous: Prisons use a comprehensive range of security measures to detect, disrupt and deter the trafficking of illegal items into prisons. Despite these measures there will always be attempts made to smuggle items to prisoners. It is a requirement for prisons to record centrally instances where drugs, mobile phones, firearms and ammunition are discovered in prison. During the period 1 February to 31 May 2015 there were instances recorded where drugs and mobile phones were discovered in packages1 sent into prisoners.   1 “Packages” includes those incoming items recorded as “parcels”, “post”, “mail” or “packages”

Magistrates Courts: Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and in what proportion of cases offenders in magistrates' courts received a (a) six-month immediate custodial sentence for one offence and (b) 12-month custodial sentence for two or more offences in each year since 2012.

Andrew Selous: Information on custodial sentences given in the magistrates’ court is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/428944/magistrates-court-data-tool.xls The maximum sentence that can be given for a single offence at the magistrates’ court is six months for an adult therefore any sentence longer than that results from sentencing for multiple offences.

Prisoners' Release

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average number of days was that (a) male and (b) female prisoners were released on temporary licence during the latest year for which information is available.

Andrew Selous: In 2014, the average number of days that male prisoners were released on temporary licence (ROTL) was 59 days and the average number of days that female prisoners were released on temporary licence was 48 days. Over the course of the year, a total of 8,072 men and 731 women had at least one day of temporary release. In the past 18 months we have made major changes to the policy and practice around temporary release applying equally to men and women, improving the risk assessment, monitoring and review of ROTL so that this important rehabilitative tool can continue to be used where appropriate and without putting the public at risk. In 2014, instances of ROTL have reduced by 14%, and the number of ROTL failures has fallen by 39%. At 53 failures per 100,000 releases, it was the lowest ROTL failure rate since 2002. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Trials

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of defendants at (a) magistrates' courts and (b) Crown Courts changed their plea before trial in the latest year for which figures are available.

Mike Penning: Information about the stage in the proceedings at which defendants in the Crown Court entered a plea of guilty, covering the time period Q1 2010 to Q1 2015, is to be found in Table C6 in the Criminal court statistics: January to March 2015 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2015). Data for cases in magistrates' courts are not available centrally.

Fines

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the monetary value was of fines (a) imposed, (b) collected, (c) legally cancelled, (d) administratively cancelled and (e) outstanding in (i) England and Wales and (ii) West Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Mr Shailesh Vara: This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to ensure impositions are paid and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the total amount of financial penalties collected over the last four years. The amount of money collected has risen from £259m to a record of £310 million at the end of 2014/15. This is an increase of £20m (7%) in cash collection of financial impositions (excluding confiscation) compared to that collected in 2013/14. The total amounts collected, cancelled and outstanding can relate to impositions made in the year stated or any previous year. These figures include fines, compensation orders, victim surcharge orders and prosecution costs orders. The table below shows the total value of financial impositions imposed, collected, cancelled and outstanding in England and Wales in each of the last five years. YearTotal Value ImposedTotal Value Collected regardless of Imposition dateTotal Value Legally Cancelled regardless of Imposition dateTotal Value Administratively Cancelled regardless of Imposition dateTotal Value Outstanding regardless of Imposition date2010/2011£413,126,895 £282,375,257 £62,263,874 £50,713,367 £609,559,294 2011/2012£385,743,300 £279,248,479 £63,957,203 £63,135,442 £593,268,197 2012/2013£404,584,213 £284,505,025 £62,594,601 £75,868,426 £575,507,170 2013/2014£420,255,840£290,311,831 £64,312,383 £96,801,853 £548,811,011 2014/2015£457,415,184 £310,313,605 £61,173,156£68,851,118 £571,061,117 The table below shows the total value of financial impositions imposed, collected, cancelled and outstanding in West Yorkshire in each of the last five years. YearTotal Value ImposedTotal Value Collected regardless of Imposition dateTotal Value Legally Cancelled regardless of Imposition dateTotal Value Administratively Cancelled regardless of Imposition dateTotal Value Outstanding regardless of Imposition date2010/2011£12,094,804 £11,525,096 £3,929,083 £1,537,284 £15,856,479 2011/2012£13,330,881 £10,632,367 £3,215,040 £1,595,232 £13,798,228 2012/2013£15,810,747 £10,991,885 £2,833,105 £1,202,628 £14,492,646 2013/2014£19,708,027£11,421,315 £3,631,848 £2,288,949 £17,079,786 2014/2015£20,574,159 £11,415,051 £3,953,832£1,747,960 £20,832,281   Financial impositions are only administratively cancelled after all attempts to collect the amount outstanding have been made, and in accordance with strict cancellation criteria. These impositions can be written back on to the system if more information is found – for instance, a new address for the offender. Legal cancellations can be applied after the case has been reconsidered by a Judge or Magistrate. Typically, legal cancellations are used where a case has been re-opened and the defendant has been found not guilty, following the presentation of additional information. Legal cancellations can be full or partial remittances of financial impositions. The outstanding balance figures includes the value of accounts that were not due to be paid by the end of the period specified (either because they were imposed close to the end of the year or because they had payment timescales set by the courts for beyond the end of the year) and those that were being paid by instalments on agreed payment plans.

Prime Minister

British Irish Council

Conor McGinn: To ask the Prime Minister, how many times he has attended meetings of the British-Irish Council since 2010.

Mr David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bury South (Mr Lewis) on 10 June 2014, UIN 199388. I have placed a list of UK Government delegates since January 2014 in the Library of the House.



UK Government Delegates
(PDF Document, 123.92 KB)

Bribery Act 2010

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Prime Minister, what meetings the Government's Anti-Corruption Champion has had with business organisations to discuss the operation of the Bribery Act 2010 and Government guidance on that Act since he took up his post.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Prime Minister, when (a) his Department and (b) the Cabinet Office has held meetings with business organisations to discuss the operation of the Bribery Act 2010 and that Government guidance on the Act since January 2015.

Mr David Cameron: Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of my meetings are published on a quarterly basis and are available on the gov.uk website. As part of the Bribery and Corruption Enforcement review, which began in January 2015, officials from the Cabinet Office have consulted a wide range of stakeholders to assess the impact of bribery and corruption enforcement on business, including the Bribery Act 2010 and related guidance. This has involved consultations with business, as well as practitioners, academics and civil society, to ensure that their expert views were captured in the review. Terms of reference for the review are available on the gov.uk website. I have appointed my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar, Sir Eric Pickles, to be the government's anti-corruption champion. He took up his post in June, since which time he has had a series of introductory meetings, including with law enforcement and non-governmental agencies. Further meetings, including with business organisations, are planned to take place over the coming weeks.

Ministry of Defence

Military Bases: Greater London

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which barracks are in the Greater London area; and by whom those barracks are occupied.

Mark Lancaster: This information requested is given below. Barracks/SiteOccupying UnitCavalry Barracks Hounslow1 Irish GuardsFelthamDefence Geographic CentreHyde Park BarracksHousehold Cavalry Mounted RegimentKneller Hall, near Twickenham Royal Military School of MusicNorthwoodCommander Allied Maritime Command European Union Operational Headquarters HMS Wildfire Joint Forces Command HQ Permanent Joint Headquarters Royal Navy Maritime Operations CentreRAF Northolt32 (The Royal) Squadron 5 Regiment Army Air Corps Station Flight 600 (City of London) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force 621 EOD Squadron Royal Logistic Corps Air Historical Branch Headquarters Music Services and the Central Band of the RAF HQ British Forces Post Office No 1 AIDU (Aeronautical Information Documents Unit) Service Prosecution Authority The Queen's Colour Squadron (63 Squadron RAF Regiment) UK Airprox BoardRegents Park Barracks20 Transport Regiment Royal Logistics Corps Regimental Headquarters Queen's Royal HussarsRoyal Artillery Barracks Woolwich1Royal Anglian 30 Army Education Centre HQ Woolwich Station King's Troop, Royal Horse ArtilleryWellington BarracksHQ London Central Garrison London District Personnel Recovery Unit 3 x Public Duties Incremental Companies 5 x Foot Guards State Bands 5 x Foot Guards Regimental Headquarters In addition to this there are a number of sites across Greater London which house headquarters or Reserve Units that are not categorised as “barracks”.

VAT: Ministry of Defence

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether VAT is payable by the Ministry of Defence on the construction of new barracks.

Mark Lancaster: No VAT is paid by the Ministry of Defence on the construction of new Barracks.

UN Convention for Protection of Cultural Property in Event of Armed Conflict

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes he intends to make to military law as a result of the decision to ratify the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: The Government believes that protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict is a priority and remains committed to that task. As announced by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 21 June 2015, we plan to introduce legislation to ratify the Convention as soon as Parliamentary time allows.Respect for cultural property is already upheld across the Armed Forces and they currently act within the spirit of the 1954 Convention. This respect is incorporated into military law through the UK Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict, our targeting policy, training, and in battle area evaluation and assessments. The Armed Forces must comply with the Rome Statute which makes intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, and historic monuments, provided they are not military objectives, a war crime.

Golf

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the approximate land value is of each golf course owned by his Department.

Mark Lancaster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor (Anna Soubry) gave on 23 February 2015 to Question 224335 to the hon. Member for Arfon (Hywel Williams).



224335 - Q n A extract on Golf Courses
(Word Document, 26 KB)

Golf

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the location is of each golf course owned by his Department.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence has 15 Golf Courses, these are shown below:Golf Course Name LocationRAF MarhamNorfolkRAF ConingsbyLincolnRAF LakenheathSuffolkRAF MolesworthHuntingdonCatterick GarrisonNorth YorkshireAbercom BarracksBallykinler, County DownDMRC Headley CourtSurreyRM CondorArbroathAlanbrooke BarracksNorth YorkshirePenally Training Camp Golf CourseTenby, PembrokeshireSt Athan Golf ClubSouth GlamorganRAF Henlow Golf CourseBedfordNorth Luffenham Golf ClubRutlandUpavon Golf CourseWiltshireShrivenham Golf ClubWiltshire

Armed Forces: ICT

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Joint Personnel Administration IT system is able to discriminate between informally resolved and withdrawn service complaints; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: Current policy sets out the requirement for all complaints to be recorded and maintained on the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system throughout the life of a case. The capability to record and distinguish between informally resolved and withdrawn informal complaints on JPA exists. The capability to record the informal remedy of a formal Service complaint does not exist on JPA but will be introduced in line with Service complaints reform.

Service Complaints Commissioner: Staff

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff were employed in the office of the Service Complaints Commissioner in each year since 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The numbers of staff employed within the office of the Service Complaints Commissioner (SCC) in each year since 2008 is provided below: YearNumber of Staff2008420095201072011820129201310201415201516Note: Figures in 2008 and 2009 include one temporary member of staff.

Armed Forces: Complaints

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many legacy complaints were handled by the Service Complaints Commissioner in each year from 2010 to 2014; how many of those complaints are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The Service Complaints Commissioner (SCC) cannot investigate complaints. However, she has discretion to refer any allegation to the individual's commanding officer or, if the commanding officer is implicated, to a senior officer. The Ministry of Defence has interpreted ‘legacy complaints’ to mean allegations referred by the SCC to the chain of command in each requested year, together with the numbers of these complaints which remained open as at 31 March 2015. This information is given in the table.  20102011201220132014Cases referred by SCC257291448418457Of which, open as at 31 March 2015194578170228

Department for Work and Pensions

Housing Benefit: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which groups will be exempted from proposals to restrict housing benefit for 18 to 21 year olds.

Justin Tomlinson: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer I gave to his previous Question UIN1696

Social Security Benefits

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what benchmark analysis of average household earnings his Department used to determine that £23,000 should be the new level at which the household benefit cap is set.

Justin Tomlinson: We will publish a full Impact Assessment in due course.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Learning Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a learning disability are currently claiming jobseeker's allowance.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a learning disability are currently claiming jobseeker's allowance.

Priti Patel: The information is not available.

Department for Work and Pensions: Complaints

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department plans to publish as a result of the consultation on its draft complaints procedure; and (a) when and (b) where his Department plans to publish that information.

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to implement the new complaints procedure in response to its consultation on the draft complaints procedure.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department has not undertaken consultation about its complaints procedures and has no plans to revise these procedures: details of which can be seen on Gov.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure). However, it has taken on board comments from an external stakeholder group about making the complaints information on Gov.UK more accessible and user-friendly and will be updating the complaints pages shortly.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the effect of changing the household benefit cap on the ability of victims of domestic violence to find affordable accommodation after leaving a refuge; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: We will publish a full Impact Assessment in due course.

Employment and Support Allowance: Learning Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a learning disability are claiming employment and support allowance and are in the (a) work related activity and (b) support group.

Priti Patel: The information available is shown in the table below:Employment and Support Allowance caseload by phase of claim: November 2014.   Phase of ESA claim Support GroupWork Related Activity GroupSpecific Development Disorders of Scholastic Skills48,75010,650Source: DWP 100% data Notes:Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding.“Learning difficulties” are recorded as “Specific Development Disorders of Scholastic Skills”.

Social Security Benefits: Learning Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken for (a) disability living allowance and (b) personal independence payment assessments for people with a learning disability.

Justin Tomlinson: New claims for Disability Living Allowance can only be made on behalf of children under the age of 16. Child claimants are not required to be assessed by an independent health professional. Currently over 95% of claims, excepting those fast tracked under the special rules for people with a terminal illness, are currently being cleared within 40 days Over the course of 2014 and 2015 the Department and the independent assessment providers have taken measures to improve waiting times for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments, for example: quadrupling the number of health professionals; increasing the number of paper-based assessment; opening more assessment centres; and improving processes and delivery mechanisms and claimant communications. As a result of these improvements, the average time taken for a claimant to be assessed by an assessment provider has fallen by more than three quarters since June 2014. In April 2015, the average new claimant was waiting five weeks for their PIP assessment and the average reassessment claimant was waiting four weeks.

Personal Independence Payment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications of the High Court ruling of June 2015 relating to delays in payment of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for his plans for implementing PIP.

Justin Tomlinson: The Court rejected two of the three legal grounds brought by the claimants, finding that their human rights had not been breached and not awarding damages. Where the Court found that the historic delay for the two claimants was unlawful, they also ruled that they are not “test cases” and it would be inappropriate to make wider findings. The Court accepted that the Government had made significant improvements to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) process and there are now no inherent failings in the system. As a result of these improvements, the average time taken for a claimant to be assessed by an assessment provider has fallen by more than three quarters since June 2014. In April 2015, the average reassessment claimant was waiting four weeks for their PIP assessment – well within the 16 week target set by the Secretary of State. As I announced in a written statement, Official Report 25 June 2015, column. 33WS to 34WS, this improved performance means we now intend to roll out the final phase of this vital reform from July, that of the reassessment of all remaining people on Disability Living Allowance for PIP. We are doing that in a controlled way – initially for small volumes of claimants with long-term or indefinite awards and in a limited number of areas.

Access to Work Programme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the Access to Work budget was underspent in 2014-15; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: Access to Work is a demand led scheme and we intend to continue to meet that demand. The amount of money spent on it will always reflect the number and nature of successful applications. In 2013/14 35,560 disabled people were supported to take-up or remain in employment, an increase of 4000 from the year before, and we want to see this figure rise even further. When a data release is made in July then finalised customers’ numbers and the associated spend for the year 14/15 will be available.

Housing Benefit

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total value of payment of housing benefit was in (a) the UK, (b) West Midlands and (c) Coventry in the last five years.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of the total value of payment of housing benefit was for properties in London in the most recent period for what figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested can be found using the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014

Carer's Allowance

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) how many people were eligible to receive and (b) how many and what proportion of people were in receipt of carer's allowance in each local authority area on the latest date for which figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is published and available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool  Guidance for users is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance Proportions can then be calculated using the published figures for all entitled against those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.

Housing Benefit

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the forecast total value of housing benefit payments that will be made in each of the next five years.

Justin Tomlinson: The information can be found in the link below  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-expenditure-tables

Social Security Benefits

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of reductions in the welfare budget on children with sensory loss.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government’s commitment to reduce welfare spending was set out in its election manifesto. Further details will be given in due course.

Personal Independence Payment

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial penalty Capita received for missing its six-week target for carrying out personal independence payment assessments.

Justin Tomlinson: Contractual remedies are in place if the Assessment Provider fails to deliver against the agreed service standards and service credits are being applied, where appropriate, in order to recover estimated financial loss to the Department.

Carer's Allowance

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in each local authority area were eligible to receive carer's allowance on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many and what proportion of such people were in receipt of carer's allowance in each local authority area on that date.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is published and available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool  Guidance for users is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance Proportions can then be calculated using the published figures for all entitled against those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Rural Payments Agency: Staff

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff were employed at the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: The table below illustrates the split between a) full-time and b) part-time staff employed at the RPA in the period requested. Figures shown are headcount as at the end of each financial year.   End of Fin. Year31 March 201131 March 201231 March 201331 March 201431 March 2015Full Time20971923172015331570Part Time609605538529564Total27062528225820622134

Rural Payments Agency: Staff

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many extra staff have been (a) hired and (b) reassigned from other roles in the Rural Payments Agency to manage applications for the Basic Payment Scheme in 2014-15.

George Eustice: The Rural Payments Agency uses a flexible resourcing approach, moving people onto different activities according to business need:   (a) The RPA have not hired any additional people to manage Basic Payment Scheme applications so far, but are in the process of taking on 68 agency temps who will start in the next two weeks. During May and June there were approximately 150 people from across the Defra, its agencies and NDPBs who were trained to work in Drop in Centres with RPA staff to cover the extended opening times.   (b) During April and May, RPA re-deployed approximately 50 people from outside the Operations directorate onto Basic Payment Scheme activities (including the Helpline and in Drop in Centres). During June approximately 80 people from outside of Operations have been deployed onto Basic Payment Scheme activities (including carrying out basic checks). These people will shortly be moving onto the next phases of data capture.

Agriculture

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect that withdrawal from the EU would have on British farming.

George Eustice: The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation of our relationship with the EU. In addition, Defra is making the case for improvement to the Common Agricultural Policy so that it is simpler and more effective.

Antibiotics: Livestock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the extend to which the presence of antibiotic resistant organisms in the human gut is the result of horizontal gene transmission from bacteria of farm animal origin, notwithstanding the strains of bacteria concerned.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research her Department has commissioned on horizontal gene transmission between bacteria in the human gut which transfers antibiotic resistance from one organism to another regardless of its strain or of its human or animal origin.

George Eustice: The pathways through which antibiotic resistance genes can be transferred between bacteria of any origin or strain are complex.   The Department continues to carry out research and surveillance to better assess the potential for, and the frequency of, spread of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria, including between those of human and animal origin. Examples of recently commissioned or completed projects include:   Potential risk to human and animal health from the emergence and spread of Beta-lactamase resistance in Great Britain.Molecular signature of antibiotic resistance in pigs as a potential source of antibiotic resistance in humans.Characterisation of ESBL/Amp C/ Carbapenam resistant E.coli from pigs and poultry to identify resistance genes, circulating plasmids and fitness attributes.   Final reports from completed projects are published via GOV.UK. Results from surveillance of resistance in key zoonotic bacteria are published annually in the Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance report.

Air Pollution: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which places in London have air pollution levels that exceeded the EU limit on (a) NO2, (b) Ozone, (c) PM10 particles and (d) PM 2.5 particles in each year since 2010.

Rory Stewart: Data for 2014 will be submitted to the European Commission in September 2015, as part of the annual reporting cycle. The information below covers 2010-2013. (a) NO2 In 2010 and 2011 the NO2 annual mean limit value was exceeded in all London boroughs. In 2012 the NO2 annual mean limit value was met in the London Borough of Sutton and exceeded in all other boroughs. In 2013 the NO2 annual mean limit value was met in the two London boroughs of Sutton and Bromley Council and exceeded in all other boroughs. (b) Ozone The ozone target value was met across London from 2010 to 2013 inclusive, while the long term ozone objective has not been met. (c) PM10 In 2010, the PM10 24-hour mean limit value was met in 30 London boroughs and exceeded in 3 boroughs: Westminster, Tower Hamlets and Camden. In 2011, the PM10 24-hour mean limit value was met in 14 London boroughs and exceeded in 19 boroughs: Lambeth, Hounslow, Southwark, Greenwich, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing, Tower Hamlets, Newham, City of London, Camden, Hackney, Brent, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Barnet, Waltham Forest, and Enfield. In 2012 and 2013, the PM10 24-hour mean limit value was met in all London boroughs.   (d) PM2.5 In 2010, the PM2.5 limit value was met in 21 London boroughs and exceeded in 12 boroughs: Southwark, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing, Tower Hamlets, Newham, City of London, Camden, Hackney, Brent, and Waltham Forest. In 2011, the PM2.5 limit value was met in eight London boroughs and exceeded in 25 boroughs: the 12 above plus Lambeth, Bexley, Hounslow, Wandsworth, Greenwich, Hillingdon, Havering, Islington, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Barnet, Haringey, and Enfield. In 2012, the PM2.5 limit value was met in 20 London boroughs and exceeded in 13 boroughs: Lambeth, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing, Tower Hamlets, Newham, City of London, Camden, Hackney, Brent, Barking & Dagenham, and Redbridge. In 2013, the PM2.5 limit value was met in 26 London boroughs and exceeded in 7 boroughs: Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing, Tower Hamlets, Camden and Brent.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Right to Acquire Scheme

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many housing association properties were sold under Right to Acquire provisions in each year since 2010 in (a) Greenwich and Woolwich constituency, (b) the Royal Borough of Greenwich, (c) Greater London and (d) England in each year since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on annual Right to Acquire sales for England are published in the Department’s live table 677 which is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-social-housing-sales. In addition, the Greater London Authority holds data for the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Greater London from 2012/13 to 2014/15. These figures are provided in the table below. Statistics are not available on a comparable basis for earlier years. The statistics are not compiled on the basis of parliamentary constituencies.   2012/132013/142014/15 Royal Borough of Greenwich 112 Greater London 164269 Source: Greater London Authority

Licensed Premises: Noise

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance set out in National Planning Policy Guidance, paragraph 006 ID 30-006-20141224, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of changes introduced in December 2014 to that guidance on the ability of long-standing entertainment venues to ensure that new developments in their vicinity undertake appropriate sound mitigation measures.

Brandon Lewis: National guidance is clear that the potential effect of a new residential development being located close to an existing business giving rise to noise should be carefully considered.

Licensed Premises: Noise

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to introduce an agent of change principle into existing planning law regulations to ensure that pre-existing pubs and entertainment venues are not adversely affected by noise nuisance regulations when new residential units are created close to their business.

Brandon Lewis: Elements of the Agent of Change principle already exist within planning policies and guidance. The planning guidance supporting the Framework is clear that the potential effect of a new residential development being located close to an existing business giving rise to noise should be carefully considered. The guidance underlines planning’s contribution to avoiding future complaints and risks to local business from resulting enforcement action. To help avoid such situations, local councils are encouraged to consider appropriate mitigation including designing the new development to reduce the impact of noise from the local environment and optimising the sound insulation provided by the building envelope.

Temporary Accommodation: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the number of young people who are living in emergency or temporary accommodation provided by (a) local authorities and (b) the voluntary sector.

Mr Marcus Jones: Local authorities reported that there were 330 applicant households headed by 16 and 17 year olds in temporary accommodation arranged by authorities at 31 March 2015. This compares to 3,140 when this data was first collected in 2007. This is the only information reported on young people from households in temporary accommodation. No figures are held on the numbers in accommodation provided by the voluntary sector.

Homelessness: Single People

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government has taken to ensure that local councils provide adequate support and assistance to single homeless people when they approach their council for help.

Mr Marcus Jones: By law local authorities have a duty to provide advice and information to anyone asking for help. To help them discharge that important duty, we have, among other sources of support, provided £10 million funding to the National Homelessness Advice service to support frontline staff, and introduced the £8 million Help for Single Homeless Fund which will help 22,000 people in 168 areas across England by April 2016.

Urban Areas: Mobility

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have provided grant funding to Shopmobility schemes in each of the last three years; and what the level of such grants awarded was by each such local authority.

Mr Marcus Jones: Information about local authority expenditure is collected on the Revenue forms. In order to reduce burden to local authorities, only grants over £200 million are recorded individually; all other grants (below £200 million) are aggregated within "other grants". Shopmobility grant funding information is not held centrally. Information on all grants expenditure should be published in a local authority's Statement of Accounts and published on their website.

Council Tax: Forms

Mr David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether there are any barriers or regulations that prevent local authorities from requesting details of a person's tenure on council tax registration forms.

Mr Marcus Jones: Local authorities are able to gather information for the purposes of council tax administration under existing legislation, and this could potentially include information on tenure. Decisions on what information can legally be gathered are a matter for local authorities.

Public Houses: Rural Areas

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to protect pubs in rural areas.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Government has helped to support the pub trade by cutting beer duty, scrapping the beer duty escalators and introducing business rate discounts for small businesses, benefitting three out of four pubs.The Department is providing £350,000 funding support via Pub is the Hub and the Plunkett Foundation to help communities to own their local pub and to incorporate other community services in it.

Housing

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate how many new properties have been sold to foreign investors in (a) Lewisham, Deptford constituency, (b) London and (c) the UK.

Brandon Lewis: This information is not available centrally.

Temporary Accommodation: Lewisham

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many households are housed in temporary accommodation by other local authorities in the London Borough of Lewisham.

Brandon Lewis: This information is not held centrally.Although the Department for Communities and Local Government's statistics show numbers of households housed in temporary accommodation outside their own district, information is not collected about the districts in which they are placed.

Regional Planning and Development: North of England

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral statement by the Secretary of State for Transport of 25 June 2015, Official Report, column 1067-8, on Network Rail, what assessment he has made of the implications of that announcement for the Northern Powerhouse programme.

James Wharton: Creating a Northern Powerhouse is a vital part of the Government’s long-term economic plan. The Government is investing in science and technology, digital and innovation, culture and tourism across the North. The next franchise for the Transpennine route between Leeds and Manchester will bring modern trains and additional capacity. As part of the Government’s investment in transport in the North, electric trains have been introduced this year between Liverpool and Manchester and between Liverpool and Wigan and work is underway to extend them to Bolton and Blackpool.

Wind Power

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of changes to planning permission for onshore wind projects on investment in the offshore wind sector.

James Wharton: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 June 2015, HCWS42, which sets out that the new planning considerations apply to planning applications for onshore wind development in England involving one or more wind turbines and do not apply to offshore wind projects.

HM Treasury

Regional Planning and Development: North of England

Justin Madders: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the geographical boundaries are of the Northern Powerhouse.

Greg Hands: The Northern Powerhouse is based on the idea - supported by economic theory - that through pooling the individual strengths of the cities, towns and regions of the North we can achieve a reduction in the economic disparity between London and the North.

Personal Income: North of England

Justin Madders: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average annual income is of each person living in the area covered by the Northern Powerhouse.

Greg Hands: Data for the mean gross annual pay by region are in the Office for National Statistics publication, "the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2014":http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-337425

Married People: Tax Allowances

Rachael Maskell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the provision of the marriage allowance on the risks associated with domestic violence in relationships where a person is in receipt of that allowance.

Damian Hinds: Protecting women from violence is a key priority for the Government. We have strengthened the law in this area through the introduction of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme and a number of new offences to protect victims. The annual Violence against Women and Girls report published by the Crown Prosecution Service on 25 June shows the number of convictions for domestic abuse have risen to their highest volume ever.   The Marriage Allowance allows a basic rate taxpayer to transfer 10 per cent of their personal allowance to their spouse or civil partner. Only the transferor can make this transfer to their spouse or partner, and they can revoke this transfer at any point they wish.

Children: Day Care

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) productivity and (b) competitiveness in the UK of (i) skill deficits in young working-age women and (ii) difficulties working mothers have in securing affordable childcare provision to maintain their work.

Damian Hinds: The government will shortly publish its plan for improving the UK’s productivity which will consider the importance of skills, female labour participation and childcare.

Revenue and Customs: Small Businesses

Gordon Henderson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to improve customer service at HM Revenue and Customs for small businesses.

Mr David Gauke: Most small businesses engage with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) digitally. 1.4 million businesses are already using the new digital tax account, and most register, file and pay online.   HMRC is expanding its range of digital help and support for small businesses, including YouTube videos, webinars and webchat to help them understand their obligations and how to meet them.   HMRC also offers tailored support to new businesses and those which are first time employers or new to VAT. These services are increasingly popular and small business feedback on them is very positive. HMRC provides an assisted digital service for those who are unable to engage digitally.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the positive economic benefits of lower fuel prices caused by the fuel duty freeze.

Damian Hinds: The Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs published research analysing the dynamic effects of fuel duty reductions in a joint report in April 2014. This research can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/analysis-of-the-dynamic-effects-of-fuel-duty-reductions.

Public Sector Debt

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the national debt, from which individuals or organisations has the money been borrowed; and to whom or to which organisations is the debt owed.

Harriett Baldwin: The majority of government borrowing is financed through the issuance of UK government bonds known as ‘gilts’ by the Debt Management Office (DMO) and as such, the majority of the government’s debt is held in gilts. The Treasury does not hold detailed information on the holders of gilts. Information on sectoral holdings of gilts is published on a quarterly basis by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Public Sector Debt

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the gross value of sterling issued through the Government's quantitative easing initiation is included in calculations of the national debt.

Harriett Baldwin: The gross value of the Bank of England’s quantitative easing, the Asset Purchase Facility (APF), is included in the calculation of Public Sector Net Debt as a liability on the Bank’s balance sheet.   This inclusion of the APF is shown as part of Table 8D of the Public Sector Finances release jointly published by the independent Office for National Statistics and HM Treasury.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans that the child element of child tax credit and the child element of universal credit will remain the same while universal credit is rolled out.

Damian Hinds: The government is committed to supporting families on low incomes, including through Tax Credits and the new Universal Credit. Universal Credit will significantly simplify the benefits system for claimants, and ensure that it always pays to be in work and to work more.   Rates of these benefits, including the child element in Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit, are available via .gov.uk

Productivity: Departmental Coordination

Neil Carmichael: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what cross-departmental work on productivity his Department is co-ordinating.

Harriett Baldwin: The government will shortly publish its plan for improving the UK’s productivity.

Revenue and Customs: St Helens North

Conor McGinn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many telephone calls to HM Revenue and Customs from residents and businesses in St Helens North constituency were unanswered in 2014-15.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold this data by constituency.   HMRC handles around 50 million telephone calls annually and regularly publishes general performance reports on GOV.UK.

Aggregates Levy

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on the reinstatement of the Aggregate Credit Levy Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Damian Hinds: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.  The previous Coalition government committed to make the case to the Commission to reinstate the Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme in Northern Ireland.   Discussions with representatives of the aggregates industry in Northern Ireland are ongoing.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Tidal Power: Swansea

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she plans to announce the conclusion of negotiations for a Contract  for Difference for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon.

Andrea Leadsom: DECC has not placed a timeframe on the Contracts for Difference negotiations, which will depend on a number of factors, many of which would be outside the control of the Department.

Tidal Power: Swansea

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions she has had with the European Commission on the decision on state aid on the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project.

Andrea Leadsom: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 June 2015, Official Report, Column 1024:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm150625/debtext/150625-0001.htm#15062546000017This answer provides supplementary information to that reply.My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not discussed a State aid decision on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project with the European Commission.The Government is currently in the first phase of negotiations for the potential award of a contract for difference to Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay. This is a due diligence phase to understand whether the project is both value for money and affordable for consumers, and whether it will drive down costs for tidal lagoon energy in the UK.

Fracking

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to ensure that shale gas community benefit funds are distributed to those households closest to potential drilling sites.

Andrea Leadsom: The government believes that every community hosting shale projects should share in the benefits.The shale gas industry has made a voluntary commitment to its Community Engagement Charter, co-ordinated by its representative body UK Onshore Oil and Gas, which includes a commitment to provide benefits to local communities of £100,000 per well at the exploration/appraisal stage where hydraulic fracturing takes place and a further 1% of revenues if shale gas is discovered.At a local level, the particular package of community benefits will be designed in conjunction with local residents. Industry have committed to keep their Charter and interaction with local communities under review, including consulting communities about it over time, in the light of operating experience.We have also committed to setting up a Sovereign Wealth Fund for the North of England, so that the shale gas resources of the North are used to invest in the future of the North.

Fracking

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to prevent ground water contamination as a result of shale gas drilling.

Andrea Leadsom: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 225861 given to him by my predecessor on 5th March 2015:http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-03-02/225861/.

Wind Power: Subsidies

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to her Department's press release of 18 June 2015, Changes to onshore wind subsidies, whether she plans to implement a grace period in situations where a consented wind-farm project is expected to commission on a certain date but grid connection delays occur that are outside the developer's control.

Andrea Leadsom: My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out proposals to end new subsidies for onshore wind in relation to the Renewables Obligation (RO) in the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 June 2015, Official Report, HCWS42:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm150618/wmstext/150618m0001.htm#15061882000003I also proposed a grace period to protect investor confidence and committed to engaging with industry and other stakeholders as I want to hear their views before framing the terms of the primary legislation intended to implement this.

Solar Power

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the average annual power output is for solar panels installed in the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wind Power

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the average annual power output is of wind turbines installed in the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Energy and Climate Change: Geology

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many seismologists and geologists are employed by her Department; what advice her Department sought from seismologists and geologists on fracking in Lancashire and East Sussex; what the cost of this advice was; and if she will publish the advice she received from external services.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans she has to address the effects of the Renewable Heat Incentive on the ground source industry; and what consultation she plans to undertake with that industry on that incentive.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

Government Contracts: Equal Pay

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to promote equal pay between men and women employed by companies in respect of a government contract worth more than £10,000 since 2010.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of companies with a Government contract worth more than £10,000 have a Board of Directors of which at least 50 per cent of its members are women.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of companies with a Government contract worth more than £10,000 have a women as chief executive.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the extent of wage disparities between men and women employed by companies in receipt of a government contract worth more than £10,000.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of companies with a Government contract worth more than £10,000 set aside places on their Board of Directors for women.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on how many and what proportion of companies with a government contract worth more than £10,000 have voluntarily published details of their employees' pay according to gender.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of companies with a Government contract worth more than £10,000 have a Board of Directors which includes at least one woman.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and want proportion of companies with a government contract worth more than £10,000 have voluntarily signed up to the Government's Think, Act, Report initiative.

Matthew Hancock: Our policy is to award contracts on the basis of the best value for money for the taxpayer. Information on the composition of suppliers’ boards and their pay structures is not held centrally. The ‘Think, Act, Report’ initiative is a simple framework to help businesses maximise female talent in the workplace. Over 280 businesses, covering over 2.5 million employees, have signed up to the principles embodied in ‘Think, Act, Report’. They are listed on the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/companies-signed-up-to-think-act-report/companies-signed-up-to-think-act-report

Members: Correspondence

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Cabinet Secretary plans to reply to the letter to him dated 10 June 2015 from the hon. Member for Reigate.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Secretary replied to my hon. Friend on 29 June 2015.

Electronic Government

Heidi Allen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that people without access to technology are not adversely affected by the increased use of IT to deliver public services.

Matthew Hancock: We want as many people as possible to have a chance to benefit from the digital revolution in public services. For those who can’t get online, we’ve introduced more support and for those who want to get online, we will continue to make sure the right help is in place.

Public Sector: Procurement

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce bureaucracy relating to public procurement for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Matthew Hancock: In the last Parliament we hit our target of spending a quarter of the procurement budget on small and medium sized businesses.

Public Appointments

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to broaden the diversity of people considered for public appointments.

Matthew Hancock: Public appointments must be drawn from the broadest possible pool of talent.We’ve set up the Centre for Public Appointments to attract the widest possible range of candidates. The proportion of women appointed to public roles is increasing, but there is more to do.

Government Departments: Databases

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to assess the handling of personal data by government departments.

Matthew Hancock: We take data protection extremely seriously and monitor data security closely.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of teenagers who will participate in the National Citizen Service this year.

Mr Rob Wilson: The impressive growth ​in NCS ​participants will continue this year and I am confident we will see record-breaking numbers of young people taking part. This trend has been reflected in my honourable friend’s own constituency and surrounding area where 702 young people have signed up in 2015, up from 310 in 2014.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons: Procurement

Frank Field: To ask the hon. Member for Mole Valley representing the House of Commons Commission, whether all contractors supplying a service to the House have now been signed up as living wage employers.

Sir Paul Beresford: We can confirm that all contractors and their sub-contractors providing services to the House have agreed to pay the living wage or London living wage to those of their staff working on contracts for the House. Payment of the living wage or London living wage is included within our Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract.

Department of Health

Health Services: Statistics

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether official statistics on usage of cancer drugs and treatments for rare diseases include overseas patients at private clinics.

Jane Ellison: No.

Alcoholism

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been diagnosed with problems relating to alcohol consumption in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Data are not collected centrally for those diagnosed with problems relating to alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol can lead to more than 60 different medical conditions, many of these conditions can be a result of long term alcohol misuse.

NHS: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library all representations received by the Government on the potential effect on the NHS of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership proposals.

Ben Gummer: This can only be obtained at disproportionate cost due to the volume of records.

Bladder Cancer: Medical Treatments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase the level of investment in treatment for bladder cancer.

Jane Ellison: Improving cancer outcomes, including for those with bladder cancer, is a major priority for this Government and we await the recommendation of the independent Cancer Taskforce this summer.   In commissioning cancer services, NHS England is supported by Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs) which are responsible for developing strategies, pathways and service specifications for each group of cancer types, including a Specialised Urology CRG which covers bladder cancer.   My colleague, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Life Sciences, has launched an Accelerated Access Review to make recommendations to Government later in the year on speeding up access for National Health Service patients to innovative and cost effective new medicines, diagnostics and medical technologies.

Nurses: Employment

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of qualified nurses that will work in the UK in each of the next five years.

Ben Gummer: The Department has not made any estimate of the number of qualified nurses that will work in the United Kingdom in each of the next five years.   Health Education England is responsible for delivering a better health and healthcare workforce for England and for ensuring a secure future supply of nurses with the right skills, values and behaviours to meet future demand.

Ovarian Cancer: Health Education

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with the Northern Ireland Health Minister the development of a UK-wide strategy for addressing and raising awareness of ovarian cancer.

Jane Ellison: Research and evidence of best practice in health is shared widely across the United Kingdom. However, as health is a devolved matter Ministers do not routinely discuss health issues with their counterparts.   Improving cancer outcomes, including for those with ovarian cancer, is a major priority for this Government. In January 2015, NHS England announced an independent Cancer Taskforce to develop a five-year strategy for England which will recommend improvements across the cancer pathway, including awareness and early diagnosis. The strategy will be published in the summer.   Public Health England (PHE) ran a regional Be Clear on Cancer ovarian pilot campaign from 10 February to 16 March 2014 in the North West of England Television region. The campaign was aimed at women over 50, the age group most at risk of developing ovarian cancer, and their friends and family to raise awareness of bloating as a symptom of ovarian cancer and to encourage women with this symptom to visit their general practitioner.   The Department, PHE and NHS England met with the ovarian cancer charities on 16 June 2015 and it was agreed that they would continue to work together to keep the ovarian regional campaign under review and to explore how we can increase public awareness of ovarian cancer.   On 23 June I spoke at the Target Ovarian Cancer event in Parliament in order to help raise awareness of this cancer and its symptoms.

Alzheimer's Disease: Blood Tests

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges on the potential introduction of a new NHS blood test for Alzheimer's disease.

Jane Ellison: My Rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has had and continues to have discussions about dementias including Alzheimer’s disease with a range of organisations including the Royal Colleges.   Improving the treatment and care of people with dementia, reducing the incidence of dementia and improving dementia research, is a key priority for the Government. That is why in February 2015, the Prime Minister launched his Challenge on Dementia 2020 as a successor to the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2012-2015.   It set the aspiration for funding for dementia research to be doubled by 2025. This builds on current Government spending on dementia research which is on target to reach an estimated £66.3 million for 2014/15, achieving the commitment to double spending on dementia research from a baseline of £28.2 million in 2009/10.

Agency Nurses

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much (a) NHS England and (b) London North West Healthcare NHS Trust spent on agency nurses in the last two financial years.

Ben Gummer: NHS England is a commissioning organisation and does not hold budgets for agency nursing staff. Spending on agency nursing staff is incurred by specific provider organisations.   In 2013/14 London North West Healthcare NHS Trust spent approximately £16 million on agency nurses and in 2014/15 spent approximately £25 million.

Prostate Cancer: Screening

Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on screening all men for prostate cancer at the age of 50; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advice on prostate cancer screening/prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing in men over the age of 50 is that a systematic population screening programme is not recommended. This recommendation is currently being reviewed as part of the UK NSC's regular review cycle and is due to be completed by November 2015. The UK NSC first reviewed the evidence for a national prostate screening programme in 1997 and again in 2010. The reviews did not show clear evidence that prostate cancer screening using the PSA test was more beneficial than harmful, and showed a risk of over-diagnosis.   The UK NSC says that PSA testing can be performed on request, and information is provided on the risks and benefits by the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme.

Nurses: Employment

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many qualified nurses are currently working in the UK.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of qualified nurses working in the UK were directly employed by the NHS in 2015 and in each of the last five years.

Ben Gummer: Information on how many and what proportion of qualified nurses are currently working in the United Kingdom is not held by the Department. The Health and Social Care Information Centre latest monthly workforce statistics for March 2015 show that there are 319,013 full-time equivalent qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff working in the National Health Service in England. The full monthly workforce statistics for March are available at:   http://www.hscic.gov.uk/searchcatalogue?productid=18106&q=sickness+absence+data&topics=1%2fWorkforce%2fStaff+numbers&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1#top

Transplant Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have had a adverse reaction to a transplant operation in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Number of patients who have had a serious adverse reaction to an organ transplant operation in calendar years since August 2012* is as follows:   Calendar yearsNumber of patients20123201314201482015 (to date)6   * data recorded prior to August 2012 is not included as it was reported on a voluntary basis. Therefore it is inconclusive and incomparable to the data recorded thereafter.   Source: NHS Blood and Transplant   NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is able to provide the numbers of incidents categorised as Serious Adverse Reactions from 27 August 2012 when the Quality and Safety of Organs intended for Transplantation Regulations 2012 came into force. These regulations introduced mandatory reporting of incidents that fall within the Serious Adverse Event and Serious Adverse Reaction classification by all organisations involved in organ donation.   The reporting of an incident does not necessarily mean that someone involved has made a mistake. For example a donor may have an infection that was not known or detectable at the time of donation, an organ may have been damaged through the trauma which resulted in the donor’s death, or a donor’s anatomy can make retrieval more tricky and organ damage more likely. However where errors do happen, NHS Blood and Transplant promote an open and transparent approach to reporting and investigating the incidents.   While it is not possible to totally abolish risks from donation and transplantation it is vitally important for transplant centres to report as much as possible and work with all involved in organ donation and transplantation to identify and share learning and promote best practice from incidents both in the United Kingdom and across Europe. This improves patient safety and transplant success rates even further.

Arrowe Park Hospital: Ambulance Services

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what average time was taken between patients calling 999 with a life threatening call and presenting at Arrowe Park Hospital accident and emergency department in the last six months.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is not held centrally.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review his current policy on prescription charging for patients with long-term health conditions.

Alistair Burt: There are no plans to change the existing list of medical conditions which provide eligibility to exemption from the prescription charge.   Other extensive exemption arrangements are in place, in England, based on age and income, to support those who cannot afford to pay for their prescriptions. Additionally, for those who need multiple prescriptions and do not qualify for exemption, Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPC) can be purchased, which allow someone to claim as many prescriptions as needed. A 12 month PPC costs £104 and benefits anyone who needs 13 or more prescriptions a year.   Around 90% of prescription items are dispensed without a charge, a further 5% against PPCs and 5% are paid for at the point of dispensing.

Ambulance Services: Cheshire

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of life threatening calls made in the CH64 postcode area to the ambulance service led to an ambulance arriving at the caller's location within 8 minutes.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is not held centrally.

Dementia: Ealing

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the London Borough of Ealing who have been diagnosed with severe dementia or Alzheimer's Disease are currently in receipt of NHS continuing health care; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not collect data on the number of people in receipt of NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) who have been diagnosed with severe dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.   Eligibility for NHS CHC is based on an individuals assessed needs. The diagnosis of a particular disease or condition is not in itself a determinant of eligibility.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of mechanisms for elevating treatments for (a) blood and (b) rare cancer.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with rare types of blood cancer have access to effective treatments.

Jane Ellison: The new cancer strategy for England being developed by the independent Cancer Taskforce will address the whole cancer pathway. Clara Mackay, chief executive of Cancer 52, which represents charities for people affected by rare and less common cancers, is a member of the Cancer Taskforce, and wide stakeholder engagement is taking place to develop the strategy.   Ensuring that the National Health Service is able to support the availability and use of effective medicines for rare cancers, including blood cancer, is a key priority.   NHS England has well established structures and processes which ensure that the best possible treatments are commissioned across England for cancer, including both blood and rare cancers. NHS England obtains clinical advice about current and new treatments and clinical guidelines predominantly through clinical reference groups which consist of clinical representatives from Senates and Patient and Public Voice representatives.   NHS England has recently consulted on the principles and process by which it makes investment decisions in specialised services, which address the issue of rarity. The outcome of future investment decisions taken by NHS England will be published in accordance with the new process once it has been finalised. Information on the consultation can be found here:   www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/investing-in-specialised-commissioning

Heart Diseases: Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the likely timescale for making mega stent technology for heart surgery available on the NHS.

Jane Ellison: We have made no such estimates.   We welcome any new technology that may improve patient care, however, more information and data is needed on the development of technology such as the Onyx XL, for example through the ongoing study involving Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, before the extent to which it is applicable to the National Health Service can be determined.

General Practitioners: Medical Examinations

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the potential annual cost to the NHS of GPs being able to access CT scans, endoscopies and other internal examinations without a specialist referral.

Jane Ellison: These issues are being examined by the independent Cancer Taskforce. The Taskforce expects to publish its report this summer.   The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published a costing tool alongside its updated guidance on suspected cancer that National Health Service commissioners can use to estimate the resource impact of implementation of its guidance locally.

Agency Nurses

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what forecast he has made of the likely spend on agency nurses by (a) NHS England and (b) London North West Healthcare NHS Trust in each year up to and including 2019-20.

Ben Gummer: NHS England is a commissioning organisation and does not hold budgets for agency nursing staff. Spending on agency nursing staff is incurred by specific provider organisations.   This financial year, 2015/16, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust is targeting a minimum 20% reduction in agency spend. This would reduce spend by at least £5 million compared to the previous year. The Trust anticipates making further savings in subsequent years.

Nurses: Employment

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what public sector organisations employ qualified nurses to provide health and social care services; and how many such nurses are employed by each such organisation (a) as a number and (b) as a proportion of the total number of qualified nurses working in the public sector.

Ben Gummer: Full information on which public sector organisations employ qualified nurses to provide health and social care services and the total number of qualified nurses working in the public sector is not available.   The Health and Social Care Information Centre monthly workforce statistics provides data on the number of nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff working in the National Health Service in England by organisation. The latest data is for March 2015 and is in the attached table.   The Skills for Care Social Care national minimum data set provides figures on the number of registered nurse jobs existing at councils and can be found at:   http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB16834 



Nurses employed in NHS by organisation- March 2015
(Excel SpreadSheet, 58.24 KB)

Countess of Chester Hospital: Ambulance Services

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time taken was between patients calling 999 with a life threatening call and presenting at the Countess of Chester Hospital accident and emergency department in the last six months.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Back Pain

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of treating back pain in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Ellison: This information in is not collected. Whilst National Health Service programme budgeting data captures information within the category ‘problems of the musculoskeletal system’ spend on back pain is not identified. Some back pain treatment costs are captured through NHS reference costs data, but because the vast majority of back pain treatment activity is not inpatient care, these costs are do not reflect the total cost.

Nurses: Lancashire

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses were recruited by each NHS Trust in Lancashire in 2014; and how many of those nurses trained (a) at the University of Central Lancashire, (b) at Edge Hill University, (c) at Bolton University, (d) at other universities, (e) in Italy, (f) in Spain, (g) in other EU countries and (h) in non-EU countries.

Ben Gummer: The Department does not collect data on where nurses, or other staff, received training. It is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to recruit the appropriate staff required to deliver services for the health needs of their local populations. The number of nurses joining NHS trusts in Lancashire is shown in the table below.NHS Hospital and Community Health Service workforce turnover: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting joiners to the NHS by selected trusts in Lancashire between January 2014 and January 2015, headcount  Between January 2014 and January 2015headcount   Joiners  Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust173  Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust30  East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust185  Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust242  Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust208 Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), provisional monthly NHS workforce data   Notes: Turnover data is based on headcount. Figures based on data from all English NHS organisations who are using the Electronic Staff Record.   Further information on turnover statistics: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB17272/nhs-work-stat-jan-2015-turn-tab-qrtly.xls   Monthly data Provisional monthly NHS workforce data figures may be revised from month to month as issues are uncovered and resolved. The monthly workforce data does not include Primary care staff or Bank staff.   www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/provisionalmonthlyhchsworkforce   Data quality The HSCIC seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where changes impact on figures already published, this is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.

Chronic Illnesses

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in St Helens North constituency are identified as suffering from long-term illnesses; and what the comparable average figure is in the (a) North West and (b) UK.

Jane Ellison: In 2012, the Department estimated that approximately 15 million people in England are living with a long term condition.   Some information on long term conditions can be provided at a local and national level through interrogation of Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) data. However conditions would need to be specified to enable these data to be extracted. Both QOF and HES data can be found on the Health and Social Care Information website at the following links:   www.hscic.gov.uk/hes   http://qof.hscic.gov.uk/

Huntington's Disease: Health Services

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has for regional or national multi-disciplinary care teams to incorporate aspects of Huntington's disease care; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: NHS England commissions adult specialised neuroscience services, including those for people with complex neurological diseases. Although some of this specialised care would be related to Huntington's Disease, much of the care that patients require can be accessed through local hospital and general practitioner (GP) services which are funded by clinical commissioning groups.   Patients with Huntington's Disease have access to a range of NHS services including those provided by GPs and associated health professionals, neurology services, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, local mental health services and palliative care where appropriate.   The Neurosciences Clinical Reference Group (CRG) is continuing to work on the development of a draft neuropsychiatry service specification which will be of relevance for patients with Huntington’s Disease. The service specification will outline the multi-disciplinary approach to caring for patients with long term conditions who require assessment and help in managing a neurological problem.   The CRG is also tasked to consider the current service specification and describe in detail where services are specialised and can only be delivered in a tertiary centre and where services can be part of a hub and spoke arrangement with secondary care (in a hospital closer to home). This should assist in the day to day care and access as care closer to home for some conditions, will be supported by advice where needed from the specialised centre and delivered in the local hospital.

Ovarian Cancer: Health Services

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential cost and benefits of advanced genetic testing techniques for the clinical assessment and treatment of ovarian cancer; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: The Department is directly supporting the adoption of emerging genetic testing techniques through the 100,000 Genomes Project. The initiative includes the analysis of the genomic changes seen in ovarian cancer and how these are related to clinical outcomes.   The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) clinical guideline on familial breast cancer, published in June 2013, recommends that women with breast or ovarian cancer should be offered genetic testing if their combined BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carrier possibility is 10% or more. NICE clinical guidelines represent best practice and we expect National Health Service organisations in England to take them fully into account in designing services to meet the needs of their local populations. Clinical guidelines are not subject to the same statutory funding regulation as NICE’s technology appraisals.   NHS England advises that moving to routine testing at a 10% risk threshold in England would require a significant capacity and funding investment. This would be for the increase needed in genetic testing and associated counselling.   NHS commissioners are required to give due consideration to NICE's recommendations alongside other pertinent factors in determining a policy on eligibility for NHS funding for these tests.